Computing folding square.



FITZ GERALD-SHELBY & P. OLIVISTED.

COMPUTING FOLDING SQUARE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5. |915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

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COMPUTING FOLDING SQUARE.

APPLICATION man 1253.15.1915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

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mz GERALD SHELBY & P. OLMSTED.

COMPUTING FOLDING SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5, I9"I5.

Patented sept.' 4,1917.

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FITZ GERALD. SHELBY ANI) PERRY OLMSTED, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMPUTING FOLDING SQUARE.

Application filed February 15, 1915.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, FITZ GERALD SHELBY and PERRYOLMSTED, Vcitizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, and Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Computing Folding Squares, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a computing folding square, and is an improvementover a somewhat similar device constitutingthe subject matter of our prior application, Serial #826,567, filed March 23rd, 1914, and entitled Folding combination pocket square.

In our prior application above referred to, we have disclosed a folding square capable of being used in numerous ways or for a variety of purposes such as for marking, gaging, etc. The instrument as disclosed in said application includes a body or socalled beam having certain linear and angular scale graduations and provided with ya markingl device carried by a blade, which at one end has a sliding connection with the body and is connected midway between its ends to the body by means of a pivoted link which causes the marker or marking element at the outer end of the blade to move in a line at right angles to the body when the blade is moved inwardly toward the body or outwardly therefrom.

The present invention has for its main object to improve the eiiiciency and field of use of the instrument by providing certain improvements which enables it to perform in a more satisfactory manner the functions described in the prior applicatiomand to permit it to be used for a variety of other purposes.

One of the principal features of the present invention resides in the eXtensible support for the marking device, this support in accordance with the present invention being a lazy-tong construction, the parts or elements of which not only enable the marking device to have a range of movement greater than that in our prior instrument, but also constitute markingor ruling and measuring elements which cooperate in a manner hereina fter described with certain other elements of the instrument such as the various special scales or graduations provided on the face of the body of the tool andthe sliding indi- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. d, 191 '17.

Serial No. 8,429. u

cator connected to one arm of the marker support.

Our invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

Infthe accompanying sheetof drawings wherein we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the square in folded or collapsed condition; Fig..2 is a rear view of the same; Fig. 3 is atop plan view with the top plate of the body removed; Fig. Alis an end view looking toward the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end view looking toward the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 7 7 ofFig. 1; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the `sliding 'block to which one of the arms `of the marker support is pivoted, and of the indicator carried by the block; Fig. 9 is an edge view of the Vsquare looking toward what may be termed the rear edge; Fig. 10 is an edge view looking toward what may be termed the front edge, the' tool here being shown inverted; Fig. 11 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing the extension slide, some of the different positions in which this slide may be placed being shown by full and dotted lines; Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are views of the instrument showing some of the important uses or functions of the same; Fig. 12 showing the instrument when used as a square or as a gage; Fig. 13 showing the instrument when used for determining the bisecting angle of a corner; and Fig. 14 showing the instrument when used as a clinometer.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the instrument or folding `square includes a flat rectangular-shaped body or socalled beam composed of upper and lower metal plates 10 and 11 which are securely fastened-together andare spaced a slight distance apart. A rib or ridge 12 extending substantially the length of the body divides the space between the plates into two parts, one of which is adapted to receive aneXtension slide to be referred to presently, and the other of which is adapted to receive the collapsed or folded marker support. This body or beam is provided with straight parallel edgesV` and in order that it may be used.

as an ordinary scale or ruler, it is provided along one edge of the top plate 10 with ordinary scale or measuring graduations 13. The top plate is provided also with immerous other special graduations which cop crate with an indicator -to be referred to presently. y

On the lower side of the body is a flange 14 located. a short distance inwardly from the front edge of the body. The front face of this flange constitutes a shoulder adapted to bear against 'the edge of a board or other object on which the marking or measuring is to be done. This flange, the side faces of which extend nearly the length of the body or beam and parallel to the edges thereof, is very important in the use of the instrument, for without the flange it would be practically impossible to obtain accurate results.

The top plate 10 is provided with a slot 15 which .extends nearly the length of the body in a direction parallel to the side edges thereof. This slotreceives'a slide block 16 which is adapted to be moved freely along the slot, but may be clamped in any posi- V. tion along the slot, by means of a clamping set screw 16a. This block carries a .movable indicator kin the form of a beveled cross piece 17 adapted .to coperate with several sets of scales orgraduations.

The marker previously referred to is in this instance carried by a lazyetong extensible support which is movable inwardly and outwardly with respect .to the body or beam, and whenfolded or collapsed lies between the upper and lower plates or in the slot on one side of the dividing rib 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper corner of the body is notched or cut away, as' shown at 18, in order that the extensiblev support may be compactly folded between the plates of the body and in order that the point of the marker maybe moved from and to a position substantially in line with the front face of the flange 14, .so that a line may be drawn by the marker from the very edge of the board against which the square is placed. This extensible marker support is composed of `two inner members 19 and 2O and two outer members 21 and 22 which are pivoted together by means -of pins or rivets so as to `form a lazy-tong construction. One end of the arm 19 is pivotally connected to the body or beam at 23 in line with the slot 15, and the inner end of the arm 20 is pivotally connected to the sliding block 16 in line with the pivotal point 23. Furthermore, the arm 19 and the arm 2O are of `precisely the same length and are pivoted together at a point 24 midway between their ends; the arm 21 which is pivoted at 25 to the outer end of arm 19 `is of precisely the same length as the arms19 and 20, and the arm 22 which is half the length of the other arms has one end pivoted at 26 to the outervend of the arm 20 and at its other end is pivoted to the arm 21 at a point 27 midway between the ends of arm 21. At the outer free end of .the arm 21 is a marker 30 which may be of any `suitable construction, but in this case consists of a marker proper 30a (see particularly Fig. 10), vwhich is .preferably a piece of lead or other suitablemarking mate,- rial carried by la shank of a screw'()b adapted to be screwedy into a threaded socket of a small cylindrical member 30C secured at the outer end of the arm 21. It

will be observed that by reason of this construction as vthe lazy-tong support is eX- tended the sliding block will move'along the slot toward the pivotal `axis fof arm 19, and as the support is collapsed the sliding` block will move in an opposite direction. It will be observed also that as the support `is either extended or moved inwardly toward the body the marker lmoves ina straight line at right angles to the body or vbeam, ,and if the square is placed along the edge ofthe In other words, the instrument purpose the sliding block 16 will beclamped i in position when the marker has been moved outwardly the proper distance from the edge of the flange 14, so that when the Vsquare is placed against the edge of a board and is moved along suchfedge the marker will draw a line such as shown at'4 34 in Fig. 12 at the desired distance fromthe edge `of the board andparallel thereto. In order that the instrument may be conveniently used as a panel gage, the upper plate 10 of the body or beam is provided with a series of graduations 85 which are preferably marked in terms of inches to indicate different panel widths measured outwardly from the 4face 'of the flange 111, ,these graduations being in n. the second column from the right hand edge of the plate, as shown at, Fig. 1, this column being indicated on the ,face of the plate .Panel gage.7 Any desired width of panel can 'be obtained by setting the sliding block with the edge of the indicator 17 on the graduation corresponding "to, the gage desired.

Not only dov the arms 19 to 22 form the extensible support for the marker, but they are used for ruling or marking purposes, that is for marking lines at any desired angles with respect to the edge 'ofA the board, the inner arms`19 and 20 being particularly useful vfor this purpose, although the arms 22 and 21 are parallel, respectively, to the arms 19 and 20, and make the same angles with respect to the edge ofthe board against Which the square is placed as do the arms 19 and 20. In order that the ruling arms 19 and 2O may be shifted tofand set at any desired or predetermined angle, the upper plate 10 of the ruler body or beam is provided with a scale 36 graduated in degrees, the dilien ent graduations indicating `the different angles which the arms 19 and 20, etc., make With respect to the edge of flange 14 or the edge of the board against which the square is placed, this. scale4 36 being in the third column from the left hand edge or rear edge of the body or beam, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the edge of the indicator is placed on the 450 graduation of the scale, the square may be used as a miter square for the arms 19 and 2O are thenat angles of 45d to the face or edge of the flangelll. Then these arms are in the position stated, that is, in the miter gage position, the arm Q2 and the outer part of the arm 2,1 are thence at right angles to each other, and these parts thence constitute a trisquare and may be used for that purpose.

Not only does thisscale 36 enable lines to be drawn on a board along the arms 19 and 20 at, any desired angles, but by means of this scale the instrument may be used as a protractor to determine the angle in degreeslmade of any two lines, for by adjusting the lazy-tong construction until the edge of arm 19 or 2O and. the adjacent edge of the body or beam of the square make the same angle as or coincide With the lines of an unknown angle, the positionl of the indi- Gator-Will indicate on the scale 36 the particular anglewhich these lines make.`

We Will next describe one ofthe' most important uses or functions of the instrument, namely, that of a rafter gage or protractor, the instrument as improved by us being particularly `adapted for marking the linesof cut on all rafters which `enter into a building construction, and-'this use as a rafter gage being due to the provision of several sets of scale 37 at a point corresponding to the rise of the roof, and when this is done the arm 19 or arm 2O is in the proper position to give the line of plumb cut when the square is placed against a rafter. The line can be drawn along either the arm 19. or arm 2O de pending upon which side of the `rafter the square 1s placed. At the lower part of this same column 37 there isa second scale 38 by which the line of the heel cut of common rafters Lmay be determined. Additionally, there are other scales fromfwhich all other necessary rafter cuts can be obtained, these scales including a scale 39 by which the line of plumb cut for hip or valley rafters may be determined, a scale 40 in the same column With the scale 39 by which the line of heel cut of the hip or valley rafters may be determined, a scale l1 by which the line of side cut for hip or valley rafters may be determined, a scale 42 by Which thel line of side cut vof jack rafters may be determined, and also a column 43 by Which the line of cut of sheathing may be deter mined to cause the sheathing which is nailed Ato the rafters to make the proper' angles over the hip or valley rafters. All these scales 37 to 13 are preferably graduated in terms of inches rise per horizontal foot, so that regardless of the particular rafter being cut, Whether the same is a common rafter, hip or valley rafter, jack rafter, or whether the cut is for the top or heel of the rafter, the angle of cut can be determined, and thence marked on the rafter by simply adjusting the slide or block untilthe edge of the indicator is opposite the particular graduation of a scale corresponding to the known roof inclination. It is thus possible With this instrument to easily and accurately determine all'the necessary rafter cuts Which heretofore have required a great deal of calculating and severalinstruments for their determination.

Additionally, We have provided a special scale in column marked a4 by which We are enabled to obtain by the simple setting of the indicator, miters of polygon of numerous different numbers of sides, the scale here shown having graduations to any of which the indicator may be set, to determine the miter of any polygon from a-sided polygon or pentagon to a 12-sided polygon or dodecagon; The carpenter or user of the instrument knowing the desired polygon has simply'to set the indicator to the graduation markedl 55, 6s or Whatever the number of sides maybe, and When the sliding block is clamped with the indicator in the proper position the arms 19 and 20 Will be in theV position relative to the edge of flange 111 corresponding to the line of cut for that particular polygon.

The instrument may also be used to ad* vantage in determining the bisecting angle of a corner, and the manner in which the instrument is used for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 13. To determine the bisecting angle the outer members 22 and 21 of the lazy-tong construction are fitted on the corner 4or corner member designated 50 in Fig. 13, and when these members properly fit the corner or make the same angle as at the side edges of the member thence the instrument will beset in this position by tightening the lset screw 16% The edge of the flange `Hand the adjacent edge of either the .arm 1.9 or arm 20 will thencevform an angle equal to the bisecting angle desired, and the arm 19 or 2,0 will thence ybe in the vproper position to mark they line of cut for a miter joint between two members which are to be joined lin such` corner. Furthermore, the size of an angle of a corner can be determined by fitting the arms 21 and 22 on to the corner, as shown in Fig. 13, and thence setting the instrument whereupon the size of the angle can be determined simplyby multiplying by two the angle designated by the position of the indicator on scale 36.

Additionally, the instrument has a very' important use asa clinomet'er. In order that the inclined member 53 of Fig. 14, the

outer ,arm 21 of the lazy-tong construction is placed either on top or on the under side of the member, and thence by means of the spirit level or levels the base or body of the square can be made to assume a horizontal position, whereupon the indicator will indicate directly on the scale 36 the inclination of the member 53. Without either the spirit level or the Yscale and indicator which are brought directly into use when the instrument is used asa clinometer, it would have practically no value for this purpose. This is mentioned at `this point to make clear the fact that -the arm 21, spirit level and scale with the sliding indicator have .a coperating action in the attainment of a very `im-` portant result.

Additionally, the instrument is provided witha sliding extension 55 which may be employed for a variety of purposes. sliding extension 55 is in the form of a flat This tongue or arm which normally lies in the slot orspace between the top and bottom plates of the body or beam on the side of the j interior rib 15 opposite to that which receives the lazy-tong marker support. This extension slide is provided with a central groove 56, and extendino1 into this groove is the end of a set screw 5? which permitsthe s j slide to move into a variety of positions, and

at the same time retains the slide on the beam or body. As shown in Fig. 11, this slide vis providedV with regular measuring graduati-ons, and when the slide is extended its full length in a direction parallel to the f body, these graduations constitute a continuation of the graduations 13 `along one margin o'r edge of the top plate 10.` Preferably the base of the groove is provided at inte-rvals with holes or openings 5S which may be and preferably are spaced .an inc h apart, into which openings the end of the set screw 57 may be inserted 'to position the slide at any particular point.

The slide may be turned on the pivot screw 57 and by the latter may be clamped at any desired angle, as shown, for example, by sever-al dotted line positions in Fig. 11. In this manner the slide may be utilized as a bevel square. rIhe slidel may be swung around at rightangles to the body. or beam, as shown in full lines in Fig. 11, in which event it serves `as a tri-square, or as an ad-` justable Tsquare. When inthis position at right angles to the body or beam, thek edge of the slide bears firmly against a block or abutment 58 (see particularly Fig. 3) which holds the slide at thefright angle position.

When the slide is at the Aright angle position with respect to the beam or body, it may be used to advantage as aplumb, in which event the spirit level or levels again have coperating action. l

From the above it will be observed `that we haveprovided an instrument which can c -rate and durable, none of the partsbeing liable to get out of order, "assuming that the `instrument is not subjected to unusual usage.

While we have shown `one embodiment of our invention, we do not desire to be confined to the exact details shown, `and aim in our claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of our invention. i i Having thus described our invention, what we claim is i j Y 1. In a folding square, a beam or body, an extensible marker support comprising a plurality of arms pivotally connected in the form of a lazy-tongconstruction, the inner ends of two of the armsbeing connectedto the beam, one pivotally connected` at a xed V point, andthe other having a sliding kconnection` with the beam and adapted to travel in a path in line with said fixed point, and another of said arms having a marking point located opposite ysaid fixed pivoted point and movable -in aline at right angles to the beam when the support is extended or collapsed, said beam being composed of upper and lower plates'jbetween which the support is received whenvcollapsed.

. 2. In a folding square, a beam Aor body, .an extensible member comprising a plurality of ibo piVotaHy-connected arms in the form of a by said beam or body to indicate the posilazy-tong construction, the inner end of one tion of a part thereof with reference to the of the arms being pivoted to the beam or horizontal.

body, and the inner end of another of said In testimony whereof, We hereunto aX arms having a sliding connection With said our signatures in the presence of two Wtbeam or body, a scale graduated to indicate .nesses.

angles Which one of said arms may make FITZ GERALD SHELBY. with respect to an edge of said beam or PERRY OLMSTED.

body, an indicator `eoperating With said Witnesses:

scale and operatively-connected Withsaid ex- A. F. Kwis,

tensible member, and a spirit level carried C. V. SCHURGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

